Inftatable container and pack



July 6, 1948. M. J. STURVTEVANT 2,444,859

' INFLATABLE CONTAINER AND PACK THEREFOR Filed Jan. 17, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 rtevant 7 l8 v Mark J.Stu

July 6, 1948. M. J. STURTEVANT 2,444,859

INFLATABLE CONTAINER AND PACK THEREFOR Filed Jan. 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sturtevant July 6, 1948. M. J. STURTEVANT INFLATABLE CONTAINER AND PACK THEREFOR Filed Jan. 17, 1946 3 SheetS-Sheet 3 I'II'IIIIIII Ema/wind, Mark J. Sturtevant Patented July 6, 1948 INFLATABLE F CONTAIN ER AND PACK THEREFOR! .MarkJ... Sturtevant, .Akron, Ohio, assignor to Wingfoot Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporat tionof'DelaIware Application-Januarylfl,1946;.;Serial:No;:641,811.

The present inventionrelatesto anovel frm of pack embodying an inflatable containenand an envelope which; -.-when opened,. willflfree thecontainer and cause it to beQautomatically. in

flated. More particularly, the invention pertains to a multiecompartment inflatable cont ainer such, for example,v as arlife raft-boat, pontoon}.-. and the like, and anienvelopethereforwhich is .pm

videdqvith-means-for quicklyopening the en. velope and contemporaneouslyperforming the operation of inflating atlleas t one of thecom-i.

partments and additional means, for. completely.

inflating the several remaining compartments of. the container in predetermined. sequentialrela-n tion.; 1

Itisan object of the present invention tokpro-T vide an assembly. .which, ..in. cas,e of emergency, will be capableof substantiallyinstantaneousiuse.

It is a further objector. the present invention to provide .a .multi-c'ompartment. infiatable. .con tainer, the inflation. of one compartmentof which;

will initiate-the sequentialinflationof the re-.

maining. compartments to cause, the g container. to becompletelyinflated ina minimum of. elapsed.

It isa'still furtherobject of. the presen t-inven.-, tion .to. provide a. .form .of'. inflatable. 'multi-rcom: part ne'nt container which. embodies a plurality.

of supply means.. for.providinggfluid under pressure'to inflate the compartmentsthereof.in predetermined. sequential relation. Other objects assemblyembodying the inventive concept.

In the-drawings, Figured is a perspective view, illustrating. a typical v form of. pack assembly .eni-

bodying the teachings. of the presentinizention and having parts broken. away for the sake of clearness. Figure 2 .is aplan view ofmone form of inflatable rmulti-compartment container, in

this case, an, inflatable boator. raft .such as. is. employed on aircraft,. on. shipboard, .etc, .Figures 3 .andA representa -side .elevation .and an. end

elevation; respectively, of, the boat-.illustratedin and 3 advantages. will be apparent.- from the .followingdetai-led description of a vtypicalJformLof.

the line 8...8,' in Figure 11...:Figures .9,..l0, ,and'll illustrate'the manner of.foldingrthe,boatlstructiiiie.L

of Figure 2 to prepare it for. insertion intlie en velopen Figure 12 isa fragmentary view illustrate ing aportion of they boat structureand its enevelop'e on an enlarged scale. =Figure. ,l3 is a fra i mentary'view illustratinga part of. the beaten. an enlarged scale.

Referringfirstto Figure 1 :ofrthehdra wingsf; the reference. character I repres'entsan. assembly} embodying an I enclosure .or .envelope 2. in .iwhi'ch I. is disposed an inflatable.containergorboat 31 (see; Figur.e1.2)..v The boat)? is deflated and foldedi'n. a manner to. .be described... hereinafter -to fenable. it to be inserted in the. envelope .The e1 velope' 2 is advantageously of generally,cylindricalform; beingclOSed at both ends, and having an opening it which. extends bothv axiallyialong the b'odyjpfi' theenvelope and'diametrically across oneof the endsthereof.v j. A "water-tight closure 5 serves to; seal the. opening 4 against the entrance. of-mois turemto the interior of the envelopel'during'theg period of storage of the boat ,3 therein); I

The j envelope 2 is advantageously fabricated from a' rubberized fabric material'and'is so] constructed that it provides the overlappingedges' or margins 6 and 1 (see Figures 6,' '7,"and 8) which cooperate; tofclose the openingA in said envelopgii; Any fijsuita bl'e form of readilydisengageable fasten'ingmeans may be employedto closethe Open-.1 ing 4 of the envelope 2. One formjof fastening; means employs; a plurality. of. studs .'.8. (see V Figure 8). whichare secured to they margin-.1, or the open r ing l'and arranged in eguallyspaced r.elationjfr.om.. one end tothe other of .theaxiallvextendingpor tion of said opening... A corres'ponding.;number. of grommets 9. are inserted in the. margin. 6.:of. the opening-4 forregistratlon with the studs li to close. the opening.

Each of the studs 8 has a hole, lflndrilled dialmetrically, .therethrough substantially ,equidisL-Q tant .from the endsthereof. for c the, reception" .of a pin. ll (see'Figure 12).. Each pin H .is adapted. to be connected, as by means.ofr'short flexible cable. segments or connections. 12,. to. a 'rip cord or flexible. cable. l3. of a. length v.whichis .sub'stane, tiallyc'oextensive with the axially .extending t" tion iof the opening ,4. rWhenfthe openingfl'. of. the envelope 2 is to be vclosed, each .of the, studs 8 i'sinserted in its correspondinggromrnet Sand one 'Iofflthe pins II is inserted in the. liolellllfiso,x as. to prevent the. separationof. the. margins and .1. of the fabric at the opening 4. The "fieX ible cable ..I 3. is provided ...with. a .handgr ipf l L at one. end thereof. I I Y The margin 1 adjacent the opening 4 is provided with a fabric strip 15 which is secured in any suitable fashion such, for example, as by stitching to the outer surface of the fabric envelope 2 as shown in Figure l. The margin 6 of the opening 49f the envelope 2 hasa similar fabric strip ,fli which is adapted to cooperate with the strip to provide a 'water tight 'se'al'which extends over the entire length of the opening 4 in the envelope 2. As indicated in Figure 1, the" strips l5 and I6 are arranged to overlay the dis-[,5

engageable fastening means embodying the studs 8, grommets 9, and the flexible cable l3 with its pins H. L

The fabric strips and lfi'are'advantageously adapted to be interflt by rolling or folding one upon the other until they closely fltthe outer surface of the envelope 2 immediately above the ships and-extending thereacross between the side compartments 30 and 3! of the bottom rail 21.

, One of the rightingtubes 32 disposed nearest the opening 4 therein. A number of detachablefastening means or snap fasteners H, which may advantageouslybeof thefglove fastener type, are provided ranged rr'alternate spacedrelation with respect tojthestlldSfl fandthe grommets 9 to insure against: unauthorized unfurling of the strips forming the seal. The snap fasteners l8 serve to secure in placeth'ose portions of the margins 6 and fl extending across the end of the envelope 2; (SeefjFiguresT and 7.) No fastening means are requiredfto'secure the corresponding portions of thej'strips I5 and lB inasmuch as the strips are tightly stretched infassembling from their end stitching at thejbase of the end of the envelope 2 asseen in Figurel to the first fastener I! on the ppermost side of the envelope.

.To. facilitatetransporting the, assembly I, a plurality of handles 119,516 secured to the outer peripheral wallfof the envelope 2 in the manner illustrated inFigure 1.; .]A"mfe'ans for temporarily housing the ,handgrip l4 and the excess portion of the cable l3' erriployedinfthe disengageable fastening 'r'neansfor, cl'osingthe opening 4 is provided in the cover patch which may be stitched or otherwise hingedly securedto the end of the envelope 2:, adjacent the opening 4 therein." The sn'apQfa'steners,2 l are arranged on the cover patij 20 tofse'r've to temporarily retain the latter d j fi9 di revent the handgr p from bfi i'nab liertently pulled until such time as it isdesiredto open the envelope 2 and to free thefboatf3therefrom;

' "As will be notedfrom Figure l of the drawings;

the "cable l3'advantageously extends through an opening 22', in 'the endof the envelope 2 adjacent the portionpi the opening '4' which extends diametrically there'acrossf The cover patch 2ll has a nap 23 projecting from one of its 1 marginal edges to seal the opening 22 againstthe entrance of moisture to the envelope 2. Thejportion of the closure {embodying the fabric strips l5 and I6: and extendingacross the'end of the envelope in which the opening 22 is disposed serves to hold the flap 23fin place when the opening 4 of the envelope 2jis' sealed'shut.'

' Theboat S 'which,"'as' previously indicated, comprises the iriflatable container embodied in the pack assembly I ofjFigure 1 is advantageously of a'ty'pe commonly referred to as a twin-rail raft.

The boat'3 '(see' l figuresf2, 3; and 4) has a topra 24 which'is generally U -shaped in a horizontal planeand comprises side compartments 25 andf2 whichlare symmetrical about the lon-' seminari ns ofthe'boat. The bottom rail 21 betweenthestrips l5 and I6 and aro'f'th'e boat 3' is advantageously separated by a plurality of vertical bulkheads (not shown) into hand compartment 3|.

fore'fi'cornpartrnent,may be inflated simultane- 'bo'at3 is an inflatable thwart 35 which may be cylinders'of carbon dioxide gas under pressure being the most commonly used type of inflating means. In order't o facilitate the inflation of the top rail-22 of'the boat 3; a single cylinder 36 is disposed at the fore peak of'the boat defined by the base of the U-shapedtop rail. The cylinder v 35','secured in'place thereon as by means of the laced pocket 31, is interconnected with the two compartments 25 and 26' as by means of a spreader 'connectio'n38- in the form of'a T for introducing the gas, when released from the cylinder 36, equally into each of the compartments which it serves, '7

Additional inflating cylinders 39 and 40, secured to the outer walls of compartments 3!] and 3l,'respectively, in a mannersimilantothat of the cylinder 33; are provided'for the inflation of the bottom rail 21. Thecylinder 39 servesto inflate the stern compartment 29, side compartment 30," and the associatedrighting tube 32.

tory to'provide simple manual inflation means,

such, for example, as ahand pump which may be attached to a' suitable valve provided in'the floor forinflating these partsjafter the top rail 24; the bottom rail 2'Land the righting tubes 32 and 33fhave been properly "inflated. 'Suitable conventional valve means (not shown) are provided in each of the several compartments comprising ;the boat structure for the attachment of the hand 'pump thereto. This arrangement is provided for the purpose of replacing with air any of the gaswhich may have difiused from the several compartments during the period that the boat is required to be totally inflated. s

.The actuation of the cylinder 36 in the fore peak of the boat 3 is achieved by the use of a manual release mean's embodying the flexible cable connection 43 which is advantageously at: tached as at 44 (see Figure 12)' to the loop 45 secured to the cable l3. Thel'cable connection 43 extends through an openin 43in the end wall of'the envelope 2 across which the opening 4 serted into the envelope 2.

1 extends; Said opening" 49 is disposed adjacent the; opening'22and is'closed, when thepack is 'a'ssembledbythe cover patch'29. Theoperation ofactuating'the release mechanism for the cylinder133 is substantially contemporaneous with theremoval of the pinsll, which serve to hold be explained hereinafter.

As will be seen from Figure 13, suitable release vmechanism are provided for the operation of the cylinders "39 and 40, the mounting and actuaend thereof a spring type disengageablefastener .2.48. A. D-ring 49 is advantageously attached to "'jthe outer wall ofthe adjacent compartment, in "'this" instance, the fore compartment 28 as by Tmeans of a patch'en.

' "The spacing betwee the position of the D-ring "'49' and the end of the cylinder 49 is advantageously greater than the over-all'length of the "wefshall' presently see, is capable of being confnected by means of the fastener 28 to the D-rin aawhen the boat a is folded and rolled to be in- As a result of the Before the folded: pack I as, including the boat 3 andwaterproof containersinot' shown) containing supplies, first aid necessities, and the like; is rolled to cause it topass'th'rough' the opening 4 in theenvelope 2; the cable connections for the operation of cylinders 39 and 49are connected as by means of the snapfasteners 48 to a the D rings 49. The pack 56 of Figure is then rolled aboutthe longitudinalaxis 5'! of the folded boat 3. The rolled packis then inserted in the envelope 2 through the opening t therein. The studs 8 are then inserted in the grommets 9 and the pins H inserted through the holes!!! to hold the margins 6 and I of 'theopening'4 closed.

flqtionfofwhich areidentical. The cylinder 49 is 15 The cable l3 connected to-the' several pins ll securelyattached tothe outer wall of the comand the cable connection 43 for the cylinder 36 "jpartment 3] of bottom rail 21 by means of the are carefully threaded through the-respective -"laced-pocket?! and is connected with the spread openings 22 and '46 in the-end of the envelope 2 f er'4 2. The cylinder release has 'attachedthereso as to enable the handg-rip M on the end there- Fitoa; flexible cable connection 41 which has on-the 20 of to-be enclosed in the pocket formed by the buttoned down patch 20. Thenthe portions of" the margins 6 and l extending across the end-of the envelope 2 are secured together by engagin the snap fasteners I8 thereon. "The fabric strips l5 place by the glove fasteners H. In this form the finished pack or assembly I" is ready'for-use in any emergency.

It should be noted, in passing, that a suitable "number of paddles and other additional items of equipment may be inserted in the envelope or suitable Wall pockets formed therein, asmay be f'arrangement, the gas will be released from the desired. Other forms of inflatable---containers "fcylinder 49 when the boat 3 unfolds, thereby "embodying a plurality of individual compartcausing theD-ring to pull the connection as the ments which may be inflated in any suitable Y [folded portions of the boat straighten out, the fashion may advantageously be substituted for 'funfoldin'g of the boat being initiated by the inthe boat 3 employed in the foregoing description "nation of the top rail 24 by the cylinder 36 in a 40 of the inventive concept.

f' l manner to be described. It is to be noted in particular that the rip cord I3 is so constructed that "when! the handgrip I4 is pulled, all of the several j pins will be withdrawn from their respective .h'oles H1 in the studs 8 to insure that the opening.

The assembly or pack I is highly advantageous for use on shipboard for the reason that it possesses far less weight and bulk than standard rigid life boat equipment. The packs may be stored at specific stations along the'decks of a L '4'is free before the release cable 43 causes the 1cylinder..36 to begin to inflate the compartments the envelope 2, it must be folded and rolled upon- ,itself into a compact pack. To this end, the deship where, in case of emergency, they may be released and in a matter of a few seco'nds'prepared for immediate use.' It will be readily understood from Figure 12 that when the-handgrip [4 on the rip cord I3" is pulled-the fastening -means embodying the-studs 8 and grommets 9 =will be released due to the'removal of pins l l.

Contemporarieously' with the withdrawal of pins II and thefreein'g of the opening 4 of-the flated boat'3 is first spread out on a fiat surface. The firststep inpreparingbOat 3 involves the folding. of'approximately one-third of the over- Z'peakcylinder 36 on the upper side of the pack (see Figure 10). To complete the'folding of the boat/3;; the third portion -54, including all of the "*stern c'ompartment29 of the bottom rail and -"portions of the remaining top and bottom rail compartments, is folded back upon the middle th'ird 5-2- andone-half thereof, indicated by nu- "-meral-', is thereafter doubled back upon itself.

This nowcompletes the folding of-the'pack to 'correspond 'with the arrangement shown in Figure 1'0 in-Whichthe cylinder=39 is positionedbe tweenthefclded segments or the boat. i

envelope 2,- the cylinder 36 is released and the compartments 25 and 26' of the top rail- 24 of boat 3 are fully inflated. The inflating or the top rail 24 causes the' boat to unfold itself and this action unsnaps the-fastenersi l'l and I8 therebyunfolding the fabricstrip's I5 and [6.

The boat 3 is immediately released from 'the 90 into the compartments of the bottom rail 21 and the righting tubes 32 and 33. l

' As previously indicated, the boat'3 will readily float in upright-position when the top rail 24, the

bottom rail 21, and the righting tubes 32, 3-3' are inflated. Once this is achieved, the hand pump included in the equipment (not shown)" is attached to the above mentioned valve in the-floor 3 l and--said*floor and the thwart 35 maybe in- 7 -The inflation of the top rail 24 of the boat 3 and the drawing of the pins H from studs 8 semblies Ion its decks is sunk, the hydrostatic release means may be set to act under predetermined water pressure to pull the rip cord and initiate the operation of freeing and inflating the life boats as the shipdescends below the surface of the Water.

Other similar modifications may be made in the apparatus employed in the delineation of the inventive concept without in any way departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

While in accordance with the patent statutes one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An assembly comprising an inflatable container, an envelope having a scalable Water-tight closure defining an opening therein for receiving the container in folded form, disengageable fastening means on said envelope for securing the closure, means for at least partiall inflating the container, manual means for releasing the inflating means and contemporaneously disengaging the fastening means, means completing the inflation of the container, and means for automatically releasing the last-mentioned inflatin means, said release means being actuated upon the partial inflation of the container.

2. An assembly comprising an inflatable container, an envelope having an opening therein for receiving the container in folded form, flaps adjacent the margins of the opening which are mutually interfitting to provide a water-tight seal, disengageable fastening means on said envelope forsecuring the flaps in sealed relation, means for at least partially inflating the container, .manual means for releasing the inflating means to, initiate inflation of the container and contemporaneously disengaging the fastening means to cause the container to emerge from the envelope as it is inflated, means completing the inflation of the container, and means for automatically releasing the last-mentioned inflating means, said release means being actuated upon the partial inflation of the container.

3. An assembly comprising an inflatable container, an envelope having an opening therein for receiving the container in folded form, flaps adjacent the margins of the opening in the envelope, said flaps being arranged to be rolled together a number of times to form a water-tight sealing closure for the opening, disengageable fastening means on said enclosure for securing the flaps in interfltting relation, means for at least partially inflating the container to cause it to unfold, manual means for releasing the inflating means and contemporaneously disengaging the fastening means, means completing the inflation of the container, and means for automatically releasing the last-mentioned inflating means, said release means being actuated by the unfolding of the container.

7 4. ,An assembly comprising an inflatable multicompartment container, an envelope receiving the container-in folded form, said envelope havmeans on said envelope for securing said closure, a first means on the container for inflating at least one of the compartments of the container, manual means for disengaging the fastening means and for releasing the first inflating means to begin the inflation of the container, additional means for inflating the remaining compartments of the container, and means operable automatically upon inflation of one of the compartments of the container to release the additional inflating means.

5. An assembly comprising an inflatable multicompartment container, an envelope having an opening therein for receiving the container in folded form, a closure embodying a pair of flaps adjacent the edges of the opening which mutually interfit to provide a water-tight seal for the opening, fastening means on said envelope for securing said closure, a first means on the container for inflating at least one of the compartments of the container and unfolding the same, manual means for disen aging the fastening means and for releasing the first inflating means to begin the inflation of the container, additional means for inflating the remaining compartments of the container, and means actuated automatically by the unfolding of the container to release the additional inflating means.

6. An assembly comprising an inflatable multicompartment container, an envelope having an opening therein for receiving the container in folded form, a water-tight scalable closure on said envelope embodying flaps adjacent opposed edges of the opening, said flaps being arranged tobe folded over each other a number of times to provide a positive seal for the opening, fastening means on said envelope for securing said closure, a first means on the container for inflating at least one of the compartments of the container, manual means for disengaging the fastening means and for releasing the first inflating means to begin the inflation of the container and to cause it to unfold, additional means for inflating the remaining compartments of the container, and means secured to adjacent portions of the container itself operable upon by the action of unfolding of the container to release the additional inflating means for completing the inflation of the container.

'7. An assembly comprising an inflatable multicompartment container, an envelope for receiving the container in folded form, mutually interengaging flaps defining an opening in the envelope and forming when interfitted a watertight closure for the envelope, fastening means cooperating with the closure flaps to secure the flaps in place and close the opening in'the envelope, a first means on the container for inflating at least one of the compartments of the container, manual means for actuating the first inflating means and contemporaneously disengaging the fastening means, additional means for inflating the remaining compartments of the container, and means for actuating the additional inflating means the operation of which is automatically initiated by the operation of inflating one of the compartments of the container.

8. An assembly comprising an inflatable multicompartment container, an envelope for receiving the container in folded form, mutuallyinterengaging flaps defining an opening in the envelope and forming when interfltting a watertight closure for the envelope, fastening means cooperatingwith the closure flaps to secure the flaps in place and close the opening in the envelope,ia first supply cylinder'of gas under pres sure. onithe containerfor inflatin at least'one of the compartments. of the container, which causes the container tounfold itself, manual means for actuating-Lthe.flrstinflating cylinder and contemporaneously disengaging the-fastening means toopen the opening and release the containerpas it unfolds additional supply cylinders of gas under pressure --for inflating the, remainin compartmerits of :.'the r container, and means secured to adjacent portions of the container when it is folded for actuating the additional supply cylinders the operation of which is automatically initiated by the unfolding of the container.

9. An assembly comprising an inflatable multicompartment container, such as a twin railboat and the like, an envelope for receiving the boat in folded form, mutually interengaging flaps on the envelope defining an opening therein and forming upon being folded upon each other a water-tight closure for the envelope, fastening means cooperating with the closure flaps to close the opening in the envelope, a first cylinder of gas under pressure on the container for inflating at least the top rail of the boat causing it to unfold, manual rip cord means for releasing the first cylinder and contemporaneously disengagin the fastening means to open the opening in the enclosure and release the boat as it unfolds, additional cylinders of gas under pressure for inflating the remaining compartments forming the bottom rail of the boat, and means for releasing the additional cylinders, the operation of the releasing means being automatically initiated by unfolding of the boat with the operation of inflating the top rail thereof.

10. In combination, a pneumatic container embodying a plurality of cooperatively arranged inflatable compartments, a first means for inflating at least one of the compartments of the con tainer, manual means for releasing said first inflating means, additional means for inflating the remaining compartments of the container, and means for automatically releasing the additional inflating means, the operation of said last-mentioned release means being initiated by the inflation of the first of said compartments.

11. In combination, a pneumatic container embodying a plurality of cooperatively arranged inflatable compartments, a first means for inflating at least one of the compartments of the container, manual means for releasing said first inflating means, a second means for inflating one of the remaining compartments of the container, a third means for inflating another of the compartments of the container, and. sequentially operable release means for actuating the second and third inflating means to complete the inflation of the container, said last-mentioned release means being automatically operated by the action of inflating the container by the first inflating means.

12. In combination, a pneumatic container embodying a plurality of cooperatively arranged inflatable compartments, a first supply cylinder of fluid under pressure for inflating at least one of the compartments of the container, manual means for releasing said first cylinder to begin the inflation of the container, additional supply cylinders of fluid under pressure for inflating the remaining compartments of the container, and a release mechanism secured to a portion of the container for automatically releasing the fluid in the additional supply cylinders to complete the inflation: of all of said compartments, said release mechanism being actuated to release thelfluid in the additional supply cylinders in predetermined sequential relation toeach other by the inflation oi" first ofgthecompartments of the container.

13. A rubberized fabric boat structurecomprise ing a top rail and a bottom rail each'of which embodies -a plurality of inflatable compartments, means associated with the top rail for providing fluid under pressure to *inflatethe :same, manual means for releasing the inflating means, means associated'with the bottom rail for providingj' fluid under pressure to the compartments of' thebot tom rail, and means for automatically releasing the means inflating the bottom rail, said releasing means being actuated by the unfolding of the boat.

14. A pack comprising a rubberized fabric boat structure embodying a top rail and a bottom rail each of which is formed of a plurality of individual compartments, an envelope of generally cylindrical shape, an opening in the envelope for the reception of the boat in folded and rolled form, said openin extending axially of the envelope and diametrically across an end thereof and having overlapping margins, a plurality of studs arranged in spaced relation along a portion of one of the margins of the opening, a corresponding number of grommets on a portion of the other margin for registration with the studs to close the opening in the envelope, disengageable means securing the grommets and studs in assembled. relation, means supplying fluid under pressure for the inflation of the top rail of the boat, means supplying fluid under pressure for inflating the bottom rail of the boat, a manually operable rip cord interconnectin the several disengageable means and actuating th'e fluid supply means serving the top rail, and means actuated by the unfolding of the boat for releasing the fluid supply means serving the bottom rail of the boat.

15. A pack comprising a rubberized fabric boat structure embodying a top rail and a bottom rail each of which is formed of a plurality of individual compartments, an envelope of generally cylindrical shape having an opening therein extending in an axial direction along the envelope and diametrically across an end thereof for the reception of the boat in folded and rolled form, said opening having overlapping margins extending from end to end thereof, a plurality of studs arranged in spaced relation along a portion of one of the margins of the opening, a corresponding number of grommets on a portion of the other margin for registration with the studs to close the opening in the envelope, disengageable means securing the grommets and studs in assembled relation, means supplying fluid under pressure for the inflation of the top rail of the boat, means supplying fluid under pressure for inflating the bottom rail of the boat, means on each of the fluid supply means for releasing the fluid to inflate the several compartments forming the boat, a manually operable rip cord interconnecting the several disengageable means and the release means for the fluid supply means serving the top rail, means secured to the bottom rail of the boat for interconnection with the release means actuating the fluid supply means serving the bottom rail of the boat, interengaging strips secured to the envelope along the edge of the opening which are foldable one upon the other to form a watertight closure for the opening, and disengageable fastening means interspersed with the studs and grommets along the axially extending portion of the opening and disposed in spaced relation alon that portion of the opening extending diametrically across an endof the envelope to secure the folded strips in place.

MARK J. STUR'I'EVANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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